Analysis of Second and Third Grade Basal Readers as Related To Interests of Boy Readers

by Eicher, Rachel

Abstract (Summary)

Motivation and positive attitudes toward reading have declined among male readers (Sainsbury and Schagan, 2004; Tyre, 2008). Various researchers have speculated as to why this has occurred. One notion is that male readers are not provided with reading material that is of interest to them. Therefore, this investigation sought to address the following research question: To what extent are second and third grade basal readers providing male readers with interesting material? By posing this question, two sets of data were collected. The first set involved a content analysis of three current second and third grade basal readers. The second data set involved identifying the interests of male readers at the primary levels. Once these two data sets were collected, it was possible to determine the nature of the relationship between the material offered in the basal readers and the interests of male readers at the primary levels.
From the list generated regarding the interests of boys, all three series are not including science fiction and comic/cartoon selections to any great degree. The themes offered varied by publisher. Harcourt did not include any scary stories in either grade level. Sports stories were less than 10% in all of the analyzed texts. The researcher acknowledged the list of boys' interests is varied and general and interests within the list may not appeal to every boy reader in the same way. So by offering more humorous selections, a publisher may reach a percentage of boy readers, but not all. Balance within the text would appeal to the greatest male audience and none of the series were balanced in offerings.
From the research by Brozo (2002), the role of the male lead character can appeal to different readers. SRA/McGraw-Hill, in the third grade text, was the only publisher to offer more than 25% of the fictional selections with a male lead character. The researcher concluded some the interests of boy readers are represented in all of the published series but limited.